Yes, I think so too ... it seems like just about every review I read about solid state amps is that the designers want to make them sound like tube amps ... I always think to myself ... "why not just design a tube amp in the first place?"

But, the First Watt SIT amps are a different piece of audio gear altogether, it's at the flea watt end of the spctrum considering that it's solid state and the technology is something like 40 years old and sat on a shelf because no one really knew how to implement it that great until Nelson Pass bought a surplus of those transistors and started playing around with it and even then I don't think he set out to make it sound like tubes, but it just kind of happened.

When you read that review even Ebaen said that Pass had no idea what he had and how good it was. But the kicker is that - it still took a Tube Preamp to bring out the best in it (specifically a Preamp using the 10Y or 801a (I think those were the valve designs used in the review).

That said in all the things I've heard about SS over the years I think the SIT has some real potential ... considering it's just been brought back to life (even though the tech is decades old) it's still in its infancy. And with the amount of exotic and boutique amplifiers that Ebaen reviews - for him to say that he's sold all his valve amps in favor of the SIT-1s seems pretty amazing.

Pass has done SETransistors before. They didn't from my reading become something to rival Decware. These new ones are different. . . may be awesome. I just don't need one. I've got two Torii Mk IIIs, a Torii Mk II and a C amp modded by Eddie Vaughn.

You know these days I have a hard time believing anyone who gushes about an amp, etc. Hype is everywhere, and everyone involved wants so much for something hot to hit the wall and stick. Even here on this site. . . I keep a salt shaker handy. I'm sure Pass's amp will sound great.

I have to agree with Lon... its the Torii III for me, for the foreseeable future.

I took my Tori III "with me" to the fest and late Saturday night, 3 of us did the III, IV, MA, Mono's.... make no mistake, there are differences in the sounds of these amps. And most people would be(or could be) happy with any of them for a very long time. You just have to know what your sonic priorities are and how the amps sonic personality will synergize with your other components, your speakers, your room, etc. etc. You just have to listen and decide for yourself.

I left my III behind for Jupiter installation... but I'm keeping my III for now. I just am absolutely "moved" by its synergy with my Audio Nirvana's and its delicious, luscious, fluid resolution, PRAT.... just draws me in more than any system I've ever owned in over 30+ years. If I was to "move", I would have to jump over the Torii IV and go to the Mystery Amp... I liked it better than the mono's even... and I was not the only person at zen with that preference... and lets be clear here... it is ALL a "personal preference". Anybody else could have a different "preference". There is no right and no wrong here.

But to be honest... after two consecutive years at Zen... hearing everything... it is my opin, that you could pair up compatible Decware gear, any of it, and have a truly musically satisfying system. You can get off the merry-go-round with Decware.

Lonely Raven, in response to your #12 post....I rarely use the quote button...because it never works.

The Herron guy...Keith Herron is pretty cool. I was once a member of the Minnesota Audio Society for some years....and we had him in at the Pavek Museum where we have our meetings and that pre & power Amp were transparent & musical ($$$-expensive). However, I still like Decware transparency & harmonics the best... .-S

http://pavekmuseum.org/I have not heard the giant Western Electric Theatre Horns in awhile....need to pay Pavek a visit!

I could not agree more.I purchased/pre-ordered the Mystery Amp yesterday.

Solid State: Pass, Moon or otherwise will not do what Steve's Topology & his Voicing does with Tubes.

My Listening Room & Bedroom Systems will have my 2 best DACS I have an graced only with Reference Cable, the Mystery Amp, SE84CS & CKC.....with the DM945/passive sub stands, Polk LS90 & Polk SDA 1 (which are my 2 pair of conventional Speakers that can play very well with the CS & CKC-the Mystery Amp will be able to drive all 10 pair of my stable of Speakers).

So, the moral of my tale is: Solid State has its place....but, not for actively sitting and Listening to Music that goes into the soul and pushes out my humanness. I need Steve's Amplifiers for that..... . -Stone

will said,Thanks for keeping up Stone. Vicarious playground and thanks for the impressions as you go.

Well said Will!

@ Stone,With the amount of DACs and Amps that's been through your playground I would have to say that I keep keen eyes on this thread. It now looks like the Anedio may be worth checking out if it is still in your stable of components and bested the NAD and PS Audio.

Let me ask you this ... all this time you've been comparing most (if not all) redbook CD's correct? Why don't you at least try a few hi-res files for evaluation and see if that makes a difference between DACs at all?

Since you're getting the Mystery Amp I believe that Steve D said that hi-res files on this particular amp are the "bee's knees" and on par with vinyl (to me that's really saying something considering who said it).

The setup is really quite simple all you need is:(a) PC or Mac, with Playback Software such as JRiver (which is my personal favorite),(b) DAC, (c) Decent USB cable, (d) A few Hi-Res files.

I would be glad to send you a handful of hi-res files on a compact disc for testing purposes (if you don't already have any). I have 24/192 files from my vinyl records and also have quite a few files from HD Tracks.

I guess the point that I was trying to make was. . . don't you think the Monos will run any of your speakers with ease and have the Decware magic, so be all that you are trying to find in the SS amps? Maybe the Mystery amp will. . . but the Monos WILL.

Anyway, I find it hard to put myself in your shoes as I don't have speakers that my current amps can't handle with ease, and don't want any other speakers than those I have (love them with a deep loyal love). I'm glad to be at the END of the hunt. I think you like the hunt more than me but if you want to be at the end, I hope you get there with the Mystery amp.